UN General Assembly 67th session: Statement delivered at the General Debate - Vanuatu

A statement delivered to the 67th General Assembly annual General Debate by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, stressing that Vanuatu was among many countries in the region being negatively impacted by climate change, including coastal erosion, coral bleaching and ocean acidification. He expressed his wish to see the UN’s assistance in facilitating effective responses to global climate change, particularly through the prompt implementation of adaptation measures, as well as mitigation efforts, climate change financing, capacity building, and international negotiations.

Beyond climate impacts, he urged to consider the potential for irrevocable damage that would be wrought on marine environments by pollution, and the projected increase in maritime traffic was only going to make matters worse. Vanuatu, therefore, called for remaining States that had not done so to ratify the London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution and its Protocol. Those countries were also urged to put in place and enforce relevant legal measures.